罄竹难书 (qìng zhú nán shū) — (idiom) too numerous to record (of crimes, misdeeds, or wrongdoings)

Definition

Literally 'even using up all the bamboo [strips] one cannot write it all down' — a formal idiom meaning crimes or misdeeds are too numerous to record. Used only for severe wrongdoing, never for neutral lists.

idiom
too numerous to record (of crimes, misdeeds, or wrongdoings)

Examples

  • 罄竹难书。
    Zhè ge zuì fàn de zuì xíng qìng zhú nán shū.
    This criminal's crimes are too numerous to record.
  • 罄竹难书。
    Lì shǐ shàng bào jūn de è xíng qìng zhú nán shū.
    The atrocities of tyrants throughout history are too many to list.
  • 罄竹难书，。
    Tā de liè jì qìng zhú nán shū, lìng rén fà zhǐ.
    His misdeeds are so numerous they cannot be recorded — it's outrageous.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
缶缶fǒupottery
Sound part声符shēngfú
殸
殸qìng罄qìng
Same sound today

罄 pairs 缶, a pottery-related part, with 殸, which gives the sound qìng.

Open 罄 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

竹 pictures two bamboo stalks with leaves.

Open 竹 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 難; 难 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
隹隹zhuībird
Sound part声符shēngfú
暵
暵hàn難nán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional 難 pairs 隹, a bird, with 暵 for sound, and meant a type of bird. It was later borrowed for other meanings; the modern 难 is a shorthand.

Open 难 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 書; 书 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
聿聿yùwriting brush
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě書shū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 書 uses 聿, a writing brush, and 者 for its sound; the simplified 书 is a later shorthand.

Open 书 →

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